Monday, March 17, 2014

So our Galapagos cruise comes to an end with one last stop on North Seymour island. It gave us a chance to say goodbye to a few of the bird species of the Galapagos including the blue-footed booby, who just happened to put on a show for us.

Being our last day, we were up early to catch the sun rise. Sitting on the sun deck, sipping our coffee, looking out over the nearby cliffs warm with the morning glow, we tried to take it all in and appreciate what we were seeing and experiencing.

The sky in front of us was filled with birds welcoming in the morning sunshine. Some soaring, others playfully swooping and diving together putting on a show that seemed to be just for us.

Then the uniqueness of the island chain set it. Seeing firsthand that two islands next to each other had similar species that evolved differently was out of this world and something you usually only read about.

In the sky, the main bird we watched was the Frigate bird. When you see Frigate birds flying they remind you of birds that may have flown in Jurassic Park - very stoic looking. Add in the red pouches and they are really a sight to see.

After breakfast we hopped on the dingy to make our way to a dry landing where we hit the shore to see what we could find.

It was a short trek around the island but it was one of the most intimate with regards to the closeness of the birds and their nests. Its hard to comprehend compared to normal animal sightings, but the lack of predation fear of the Galapagos creates such a unique viewing experience. You literally walk right next to the birds and their nests.

For instance, take this short video below which is a fairly routine Galapagos encounter. We were walking down a path next to a blue-footed booby and he decided he might try the mating dance on our friends.

So, with that last laugh - we finished our boat tour of the Galapagos Islands - truly a magical place! Enjoy the last set of photos.

In a few hours we'd be back on the mainland and on our way to experience Peru.